OPERATION COUNTY LINE DRUG ARRESTS

The Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team, a HIDTA initiative and an Arizona Criminal Justice Commission supported taskforce, conducted a search warrant at the Arizona Strip yesterday, November 21st that resulted in 5 felony arrests, the seizure of drug paraphernalia, and multiple firearms.

This search warrant resulted after a three month long investigation into a drug trafficking organization living in an area of the Arizona Strip at the 700 block of N. Stagger Mountain Rd. The investigation dub named “Operation County Line” resulted in purchases of methamphetamine from the property over the three month period; however, history of drug related arrests stemming from the Stagger Mountain property went back two years.

Investigators determined that the residents of this property were the main source of heroin and methamphetamine impacting the quality of life for citizens in Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab, Utah.

During the early morning hours of November 21st, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Operations Unit and the Arizona Department of Public Safety SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the property. The property is approximately 1 acre and has 5 livable residences and approximately 75 vehicles on it.

The property is only a few hundred feet into Mohave County from the Coconino County border on the Arizona Strip. During a search of the property several items of contraband and 4 guns were seized. 5 subjects were arrested at the time the search warrant was executed. Two others were arrested prior to the search warrant in relation to this operation.

The Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team wants to thank the following agencies that assisted in the investigation: Utah agencies Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Kane County Sheriff’s Office Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Vehicle Theft Taskforce and the Gang Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission, Mohave County Code Enforcement and Environmental Health, Bullhead City Police Department Bomb Squad, and the Kingman Police Department Bomb Squad and K9 Unit.

Arrested at scene:

Richard Glenn Jessop (64) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Conspiracy to Commit Narcotic Drugs for Sale, Conspiracy to Commit Dangerous Drugs for Sale, both felonies

Melinda Lark Atwood-Evenson (47) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Possession for Sale of Dangerous Drugs, Trafficking in Dangerous Drugs for Sale, Conspiracy to Commit Sale of Narcotic Drugs

Theodore Lawrence Jessop (30) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Conspiracy to Commit Dangerous Drugs for Sale, Conspiracy to Commit Narcotic Drugs for Sale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Joshua Glenn Jessop (28) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Possession of Weapon by Prohibited Possessor, Conspiracy to Commit Narcotic Drugs for Sale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Ephraim Ernest Black (28) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Arrested Prior to Search Warrant on November 4th, 2016:

Katie Dawn Millett (27) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Possession of Narcotic Drugs for Sale, Possession of Narcotic Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Conspiracy to Commit Dangerous Drugs for Sale

Danny Allen Markland (49) of an unincorporated area of Mohave County, AZ – Conspiracy to Commit Dangerous Drugs for Sale